Method of and apparatus for smoke prevention



July 31, 1923.

H. M. NOBIS METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SMOKE PREVENTION Filed Feb. 6, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inrenior .HkrgyMMZiS July 31, 192.3. 1,463,629

H. M. NOBIS METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SMOKE PREVENTION Patented July 31, 1%23.

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' HARRY M. NO BIS, OF EAS T CLEVELAND, OHIO.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SMOKE PREVENTION.

Application filed February 6, 1922. Serial No. 534,366.

T 0 all; whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY M. Nonis residing at East Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahogra and State of Ohio, and a subject of the British Empire have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Methods of and Apparatus for Smoke Frevention, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of this invention are to provide a method and apparatus for prevention of the very imperfect combustion of fuel at the time of stoking and the consequent issuance of black smoke from the fines of furnaces at such times. This problem of smoke prevention has become more and more acute in cities having; large industrial centers,--the matter of unnecessary smoke concerning both the property owners of these build ings in which the great fuel waste occurs, but the general public as well who must breathe the smoke-laden air in such loca tions.

It is a particular object of my invention to solve the problem above stated by pouring a stream of fresh oxygen-laden air into the fire pot for the period immediately following the feeding of fresh fuel upon the fire, as it is observed that this is the interval when the greatest issuance of smoke takes place'due to the 'lo weringof the temperature of the chamber below the limit of perfect combustion by the fresh fuel last deposited on the fire and also to the temporary closing of the openings through the fuel and grate from below by such fresh fuel.

It is a further object of this invention to regulate this period during which the fresh air is being poured into the fire pot by limiting the time of said flow so that such special provision of oxygen fluid will be shut off when no lono'er needed the latter condition being reachecL when the fresh fuel is heated up to the point that the ordinary draft provision is sufiicient. V

A furtherobject is to provide a control of thispouring of fresh airupon the fuel actuated by a liquid trap mechanism so that when the liquid, such as water from the or 'dinary city water supply, is poured out of the trap box or tank, the said air flow will at once begin to function, and when the liquid again rises in the tank to the predetermined height the flow of said fresh air will cease.

A further object .is to provide a control of the fresh air upon the fire pot, such as bymeans of the flushing tank above mentioned, which will be automatically actuated, as by the swinging ofthe .fuel door.

A further object is to provide such a trap box for water control of the. fresh air stream to be poured on the fire-pot wherein the liquid released from the tank will be poured out over the ashes in theash pit. -Another object is to provide for pre-heating the air which is to be poured upon the fuehand this can be done by utilizing for such preheating purpose heat from the, chimney flue thus further providing economyin fuel.

A still further object is to pour the preheated air over thelfresh fuel in small jets, by dividing the large stream of air forcing it through smallapertures in metalplates which are continuously heated by their position immediately over the fire.

Other objects'of my invention. willbe seen as the description of the structu re in which it is embodied proceeds; and as the parts of said structure are explainedas illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings wherein- Figure 1 is a front; view'of a'furnace to Which my invention is applied; F'gure 2 is a side view of the same wit parts of the pro-heating hood bro-ken away; Figure 3 is an elevation of the plate having the heating pockets for. the inpouring air as seen from the inside of the furnace looking out; I v

Figure 4 is a side-view of the-flushing tank, certain Walls being broken away; 7

Figure 5 is a horizontal section .on the line 5--5 of Fig. 2, looking down, as indicated by the arrows; 1 V I Figure 6 is a vertical section taken onthe line 6-6 of Fig, lQlooking in the direction of the arrows; and i i r i F inure? isa sectional view taken on the line 7.7 of Fig. 6.

In said drawings in which similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts,"

the furnace'is designated generally by A having the upper clean-wit doors G, fuel door F, draft 'door I and ashdeor H. B

vide a strong and direct draft temporarily, as in starting stile, and the latter being ordinarily used when the fire is well started,

and it is economical to use a more indirect escape for the smoke. These pipes may be used selectively by operating the dampers 2 as will be obvious.

My invention is designed for application to any kind of furnace burning solid fuel, and is not restricted to steam or hot water heaters but may be used for heating any conducting agent For the purpose of description, however it is shown as applied to a steam heating furnac As illustrated D designat s the water chambers of a boiler and T a steam pipe leaning therefrom. To provide for pour fresh air overthe *l'uel in the fire pot when treshtuel is led into the tirrnace thepipes or ducts P and are directed to the front of the urnace and are arranged to pour-air in the latter throu h openings 3 therein and from there directed. over thetuel requiring oxygen for perfect combustion. Tn flowing to the location desired this air preferably preheated by means to belater describec, super-heated by contact with the plate V shown in 3 6 and 7). p

This plate V is made up of a number of sections l comprising number of pockets 5 terminating in nipples 6 having small apertures through which the air conducten and therebysuper-heated as the said plate is suspended from the metal roof of the main fire pot Band directly over the fire all times. It the pressure in the pipe @5- is too great to permit of flowing; through the said nipples tast enough. the residue of such air will be directed downward by said plate and heated in its descent by the walls ofthe chamber before reaching the tuel as indicated by the arrows in the'drawings in Fig.

which the pipe P conducts the forward. I

6. It will thus befseen that the airis raised "to a very high temperature beto're reaching the fuel whatever path it follows.

The pipes P and Q really form a con tinuous tube for preheating the air thus fed into the furnace at This pro-- limin ary heating is accomplished by envelop ins: the Y -connec-.ion of the pipes L and M with the smoke pipe by a hood Q from heated air intervals.

The means illustrated for controllin the feeding of the preheated air into the lit "nace will now be described: I; flushing tank K is provided at a convenient location at the side of the furnace, preferably near the front thereof and above the aehpit C. .ldipes P and enter said box or tank but are separated each other by a partition 8 which is positioned below the top of said box. From this construction it will be seen that it the said box is filled with liquid, the pipes P and Q- will not communicate with each other, but that when the level ot the liquid tells below the said partition, may pass trorn pipe 1 to pipe Q and thence into the "furnace opening as before explained. It 18 to be especially noted that in the entire passage mechanism and arrangement of parts: The

bottom of the said water box opens into two ndependent pipes R and G the latter leadingto some convenient city water supply or to some other source of liquid under pres sure and having; two valves Sand 10 one 7 of which 9 may be set for a desired speed of flow usually adjusted by the engineer of a building at determined rate depending on the t it is desired that the fresh air shallbe let. i The va ve 10 1s provided for l; the pipe S when it is desired for any purpose, as in repairing the plumb ing. The opening leading from the box into the pipe is also controlled by another valve llactuated by the common formof loll-ow floating sphere l2 seen on the ordiary torn'i of flushing tanks. 7

The pi 3e R leads to the ashlpit C where it empties into a perforated pipe 13 which surrounds the said pit on all sides and sprays he water over the ashes therein when the pipe R is open. The latter pipe has a valve 1 tor controlling the Flushing of the tank K through thesaid pipe B. This valve may be operated manually if it is desired, or may be here illustrated connected with the fuel door 1 for automatic actuation thereby. This latter connection involves provision of crank arm and link 15 arranged for opera tion by the rotation of the pivot shaft 16 of said door F. Suitable weights 1'? are mounted to nornia i close the said door. operates lever 18 and thereby the link 19 which is slotted to receive therein the acof the ball 12- closes the valve, by which time there'will no longer be need for the special provision or" outside air above the fire and the pipes l and Q3 disconnected by the rise of water above the lower edge of the partition 8 until. the valve 14 is again opened Link 15 as by opening of the door F a ain wide enough to actuate the arm 20. scale 21 indicates the level of the liquid in the tank.

It is to be noted that the structure described is not only advantageous in provid ing a quantity of hot but fresh air rich in oxygen above the fire when it is needed most (just after stoking), but that the utilization of the water flushing mechanism for the purpose is further beneficial in spraying the ashes with water which in the opinion of competent. heating engineers is of great value in preventing the formation of hard jclinkers upon the grate just above the pit. The said water tank control of the air supply for prevention of unnecessary smoke from the chimney has therefore a double function.

The operation of the mechanism has been partly explained as the structure was described. It may be said, however, in recapitulatien that the valve 9 in the'pipe S may be adjusted to fill the tank K in from two to eight minutes during which period a flow of heated air'will be poured upon the fire to render more perfect the combustion of the fuel in the pot; that the apparatus illustrated by the drawings in which the principle of my invention is disclosed serves to preheat the air to 'be poured in, first by the hood 0 and again by super-heating by contact with the plate V before final entrance into the furnace chamber proper; that the air is finally fed in upon the coal in a manner designed tospread the same over the surface of the fire by means of the nipple construction 6'; and that finally the tendency to prevent clinkers is obviated by the spraying of the water over the ashes below the fire at very suitable intervals. 7

/Vhile my invention is described as embodied in the particular structure illustrated. it is to be especially understood that I am by no means limited to said construction, as it is obvious that many changes therein will suggest themselves to the skilled mechanic with the disclosure herein before him. For example, the apparatus here shown may be applied to any furnace feedi-ng solid fuel with advantage, whether the heat is used for heating boilers. such as in water or steam heat, or for hot air furnaces as well. Further, applicant is by no means to be confined to the particular type of hood for the initial heating of air to be supplied to the furnace. Many types of pro-heaters may be used for thepurpose. Neither is it essential that the air be ore-heated as shown, as a great advantage will result from the provision of fresh air by my pipes controlled by my flushing apparatus whether heated or not. arrangement may be used whetheror not the plate V and itspockets 5 are used for superheating, though the described combination is regarded as unique and very practicable.-

Then, the use of the hood Also, the valve 14: for opening the flushing pipe It may be used without any special means for connecting the same with the door F. 3

It will be observed that the air inlet mechanism disclosed may be applied to.

furnaces already installed and having originally no provision for smoke prevention by feeding fresh air at the time of feeding fresh fuel, It will ordinarily require merely the mounting of the pipes 13 in the ash pit and the pipe Q for registering with the openings 3 in thefront of the furnac e, as

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent isr ,1. The method of firing a furnace comprising stoking'the'furnace at intervals, directing fresh air over the fuel in the fire potimmediately after stoking, using Water to control the supply ofair. so'directed, and

sprinkling into the ash pit water so used. '2. The method of firing. a furnace comprising pre-heating air, s'toking the furnace.

directing the preheated air over the fresh ly fed fuel, using water't-o control the air so directed, and sprinkling into the ash pit water so used.

The method of firing a, furnace comprising utilizing the waste products of combustion to pre-heat air, heating a solid body over the fuel and within the fire chamber, stoking the furnace, super-heating the preheated air'by contactwith said heated solid body, directing the super-heated air over. the freshly fed f'uel,using water to control the air so directed, and sprinkling into the 'ashpit of the. furnace "the water so used.

4. In a furnace, a perforated platesuspended over the fuel and near the front of the fire chamber, a chambersurrounding the-smoke outlet, a duct'leading from'the last said chamber to the fire chamber in front of said plate, a flush tank, an outlet from the finsh tank discharging into the ash pit of the furnace, and means for interrupting the flowv of air in said duct by the rise of water insaid flush tank.-

5. In combination with a furnace'havin '7 openings in itswallsn'earthe fuel door, an air. pipe leading into said openings, a flushing tankmechanism having p pes for conducting liquid thereto and tl'ie'refrom and a partition projecting dowh'from the top thereof so as to divide the airspace thereof when liquid rises in said tank, a hood enveloping the chimney flue of said furnace, pipes leading fr'om the said hoed to one side i of the partition in the said tank and from rise of water'in said tank interrupts t the other side: of the partition to the said openings, and means for controlling the rise and fall of the liquid in the tank, substantially as described.

6. In combination with a furnace, a flushing tank mechanism having pipes leading thereinto for carrying liquid and a partition so positioned therein as to divide the space thereof when liquid rises in the tank, a hood enveloping the chimney flue of the furnace, a pipe leading from the hood to one side of the partition in the tank, another pipe leading from the other side of the partition in the tank to the fire chamber so that air will enter said hood at its lower end, hecome heated in passing through the same, pass through the said air pipes and tank and enter the fire chamber above the tire therein, and means connected with said liquid pipes for controlling the rise and fall of the liquid in the ,tank, substantially as described. I

7. In combination, flushing tank mechanism including a tank, an inlet pipe leading into the tank from a source of water under pressure, a float valve controlling said in let pipe, an outlet pipe leading from said tank to the ash pit of the furnace, a valve for the outlet pipe, connections between the outlet valve and the door whereby the opening of the door opens said outlet valve, an air pipe leading to the fire chamber over the fuel, and means whereby the rise of water in said tank interrupts the flow of air in said air pipe. V

8. In combination, a flushing tank mechanism including a tank, an inlet pipe leading into the tank from a source of water under pressure, a float valve controlling said inlet pipe, perforated pipes connected together and passing around inside the walls of the ash pit of the furnace, an outlet pipe leading from said tank to said pipes in the ash pit, a valve for the outlet pipe, connections between the outlet valve and the door whereby the opening of the door opens said outlet valve, an air pipe leading to the fire chamher over the fuel, and means whereby the he flow of air in said air pipe.

9. in combination, a furnace, a sectional metal platelccated in the fore part of-the furnace chamber and having a plurality of pockets therein terminating on its rear face in small nipples having small apertures therein so tnat air entering said chamber may enter said pockets and leave said apertures in jets ofsuper-heated air which spread out over the fuel, air ducts leading to the furnace chamber infront of said plate, and automatic means set in' operation by the opening of the furnace door for opening said air ducts for a limited time. 7

10! In combinatiom a furnace, a metal plate having pockets therein terminating in nipples having small apertures issuing therefrom, said plate being suspended from the roof ofthe fire chamber in a vertical plane near the fuel door and directly over the front part of the fire, a chamber surrounding the smoke fines of the furnace and 'air duct mechanism conducting a current of air from the last chamber to the chamber in front of said plate. V r

11. Means for super-heating air entering the fore part of a furnace chamber consisting of a sectional plate positioned over the fire near the front, the same being suspended from the roof of the firechamber in a vertical plane and having thereina series of pockets terminating on the back side in apertured nipples, substantially as described.

12. Smoke prevention mechanism for furnaces comprising air ducts leading to the fire chamber, flushing tank mechanism for con-' trolling the current of air in sald ducts, pre

heating means including upper. and lower flues connectedselectively with the common smoke flue forming a Y-connection and a hood enveloping the said Y-connection ofthe several fines, being open at its bottom and leading to one of-said air ducts, and means in the fire chamber for super-heating the hot air entering from said ducts, substantially as described.

13. A pre-heating mechanism for air ducts leading to a fire chamber of a furnace'for the prevention of smoke at the time of stoking, consisting of smoke flues connected selectively with a main line directly issuing from the furnace, one .of which is the smaller and arranged at a higher level than the main flue tov create a strong direct draft when needed and another of which is the larger and arranged on a much lower level than such main flue, there being convenient dampers for determining the flue to be used and all the fines leading to the common chimney, and an enveloping hood about the several flues at their common connection open at its bottom and leading to the said air. ducts, substantially as described.

'14:. Smoke prevention mechanism for furnaces comprising air ducts leading to the fire chamber, flushing tank mechanism for controlling the current of air in said ducts including a common tank whose top is in communication with one air duct leading thereto from outside air and another duct leading therefrom to the fire chamber, a partition which. shuts off communication between said ducts when the liquid rises in the tank and opens the same when the liquid falls, a water pipe entering said tank from a source of water under pressure, another water pipe conducting liquid from said tank to a point just above the ashes in the ash pit, a valve mechanism actuated by the rise of water inthe tank to close the leading-in pipe, a valve nor and lever means connected to said valve arm mally closed for controlling the escape of and shaft arm so that the swinging door Will Water from the tank through the pipe leadactuate the said arm to open the valve, sub- 10 ing to the ash pit and having an actuatstantially as described.

ing arm for opening the valve, a shaft ro- In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my tating with the door When the latter is signature.

opened and having an arm fixed thereto, link HARRY M. NOBIS. 

